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kn's avatar
kn
Brass Contributor
Mar 23, 2025
Solved

Low reputation

I am an independent developer, and I've been unable to publish https://github.com/teamatica on the Microsoft Store for about https://teamatica.org/history-en.txt — it keeps getting rejected due to "10.2.10 Security":

Microsoft Store

 

I realize this is because I'm not well-known, but how can I build a reputation when it’s impossible?

 

Microsoft blocks the download:

Microsoft Edge

 

Microsoft even prevents it from being opened:

Microsoft Windows

 

Sure, I could provide a step-by-step guide on https://teamatica.org/check-digital-signature-dark-en.gif my app, but, as experience has shown, users don’t trust unfamiliar apps (and rightly so!), because Microsoft has conditioned them for years to avoid running unknown software: "Make sure you trust before you open it" and "Running this app might put your PC at risk".

Don't get me wrong: as a regular user, I fully support these security measures because they truly work and help.

But as an independent developer, I don’t know what to do :(

 

My app doesn't engage in cryptojacking, doesn't initiate unauthorized network activity, and https://app.any.run/tasks/0faaf878-0f1f-49fc-a6a4-2c197bd9ac48 to users — it doesn't transmit any data to me and/or third parties, doesn't use telemetry and/or monitoring tools, doesn't track actions and/or location, doesn't have built-in diagnostics and/or analytics, doesn't request privilege escalation, doesn't collect statistics and doesn't learn from personal data.

 

My app passes all the necessary https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/filesubmission:

Microsoft Security

 

And I can’t afford an https://ssl.com/faqs/which-code-signing-certificate-do-i-need-ev-ov/ since I’m an individual, not an organization:

ssl.com

But my app gets blocked anyway.

So... does anyone have any ideas on what I can do in my situation?

  • Looks like my app was finally approved, and it is no longer blocked when downloaded or launched (still can't believe it). I hope it won't be blocked after this message 🥲

    A huge thank you to everyone who helped me solve this issue — I truly appreciate it 🔥

    To Microsoft: if you genuinely want more new apps in the Store, you need to improve the verification process for independent developers. While I fully support all your security measures and policies as a user, as a developer, https://medium.com/@teamatica/microsoft-store-121542d58aec because not all developers and apps pose a risk to end users.

    To developers: unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what or who helped me (as I have reached out in many places and spoken with many people over the past few months). But one thing I know for sure — never give up (even if your messages/questions/accounts are ignored/blocked/removed) and always strive to make your product the best it can be.

3 Replies

  • kn's avatar
    kn
    Brass Contributor

    Looks like my app was finally approved, and it is no longer blocked when downloaded or launched (still can't believe it). I hope it won't be blocked after this message 🥲

    A huge thank you to everyone who helped me solve this issue — I truly appreciate it 🔥

    To Microsoft: if you genuinely want more new apps in the Store, you need to improve the verification process for independent developers. While I fully support all your security measures and policies as a user, as a developer, https://medium.com/@teamatica/microsoft-store-121542d58aec because not all developers and apps pose a risk to end users.

    To developers: unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what or who helped me (as I have reached out in many places and spoken with many people over the past few months). But one thing I know for sure — never give up (even if your messages/questions/accounts are ignored/blocked/removed) and always strive to make your product the best it can be.

  • jbmartin6's avatar
    jbmartin6
    Iron Contributor

    You don't explicitly state this, did you report the file as safe as the report details suggest?

    • kn's avatar
      kn
      Brass Contributor

      Yes, many times. On several occasions, I even received the standard automated response from a bot stating that a "24-hour investigation" was needed, but no investigation ever took place as there was no further correspondence:

      In most cases, I received no reply at all — I sent the file about 10 times but only got 3 emails confirming the registration of my reports.

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